Mining machine



Sept. 29, 1931. M. P. HOLMES 1,824,954

MINING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l l/wzn' TOR NORRISHOLMES- AW" A-mmm Sept. 29, 1931. I M, P HOLMES 1,824,954

MINING MACHINE 'Filed March 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //YVEIY TOR NonmsR Ho I756.

"Am; AMM- Patented Sept. 29, 1931 onms r.

HOLMES, or cLAnnMoN'r, NEW 'n AMPsnmEiassxGNoa, To, sUL IvaN MACHINERYcoMrANY; a ooitroaarronfor' massacnnsnr'rs Application meg aren 1a,'19ao.= Serial 11 ,437,283;

This invention relates to improvementsin"? mining machlnes and'moreparticularly has j reference to improved flexiblefeedin'g means for acoal mining machine of the continuous.

cutter, bottom cutting type.

An object of 'thisinvention 1s to provide an improved mining machinefeeding means and more particularly improved *flexible feeding means fora coal mining machine of the room and pillar type. Another object is toprovide an improved fiexibleffeeding means for a room andpillartype-mining I forwardly lengthwise thereof is a" plane cut machinewhereby themachine is tea and guided in 15. manner.

improved feeding disposed axes extending atoblique angles and advantagesof this invention will, however. hereinafter morefully appear? In theaccompanying drawings there is In these drawings,' v

1 is a planvievv ofjtheillu strative embodiment of the improved'miningma as chine.

' Fig. 2 is an of thefeeding end of the machine shown in Fig.1.

machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2. "Q

the improved feeding'mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a centrallongitudinally extending line 55 of Fig. 4.

lire c -e f Fig. 5.

In this illustrative embodiment "of the invention the improved feedingmeansjiis;

- pillar" type, varioiisnovel features of the improved feedthe'machineis slidably supported for move-1..

an improved and more flexible A further object i's'tojprovide an meansof "the aforesaid f character wherein the relatively rotatable feedoperating and controllingjmembers andthe driving means therefor arearranged'in 29 an improved manner'on the machinwhereby an extremelycompact feeding mechanism may be had, the 'fe'edopera'tingandtontro'lling members beingarranged on angularIy' fromthe centrallongitudinal vertical plane of the machine. These and othen'jobjects,

1 machine in a manner 'machineaframe 1s a herein "preferably of thereversible electric. enlarged side elevational-view d I I ldisposed andextending longitudinally of the fmachine. Fig. 3 IS a rear elevationalview ofthe v i through any approved transmission mecha- Fig. 4 is anenlarged horizontal sectional nism', which maybe of the same generaltype" view illustrating the structural details-of vertical sectionalview taken substantially on embodied-in a m1 mining machine of atcontinuouscutter, bottom cutting, room and although it is evident-thatthe ingmeans may be incorporated in coal min-" 'ing'machines of variousother types 'The mining machine generally comprises. a low I compactmachineframe or body'l having a smooth plane-bottom surface 2.upon whichment over the'mine bottom. Secured rigid .ly withinthe machine frameandp-rojec'ting ter 'bar 3-supporting on its marginan endless cutter'bitcarrying cutter chain 4. -Arranged: ina novel--ma'nne'ras hereinafterdescribed ontthe' rear-fend of the machine frame are? relativelyrotatable feed operating and con trolling members 5 and 6, herein in theform of cable winding or haulage drums, cooper-' 'ating'with'flexiblefeeding and controlling cables 7 and'8 respectively. As shown in Figswland 3, arranged in a novel manner I a on Vertical axes at the rear endof the machme? frame adjacent the feed and controlling drums are guidesheaves 9, 10, 11 and12, while-arranged at the opposite sidesv 0f thevfront end of the machine frame ar ei guide sheaves 13 and 14 and theseguide sheaves are adapted 'to guide the feed and controlling 8 f cablesdnring j the various operations ofthe well understood in.the' miningmachine art. Carried centrally by the low compact motor 15,

typeghaving its power shaft 16 horizontally" The'cutter chain disoperatively. I

connected to the front end of the motor shaft" as thatfdisclosed in mycopending applica- 'driven from the rear end of the motor shaft 16through improved transmission connections tobe now described. Nowreferring to the improved feeding; Ineansand more particularly to theimproved driviri'gmeans therefor, it will be-noted that secured to therear end of the motor shaft 16 is a. spur pinion 17 meshing with a spurgear 18 (see Fig. 6) in turn meshing with a spur gear 19 keyed to thefront end of a horizontal shaft 20. The shaft 20 extends longitudinallyo'fthe machine and is suitably journaled within the lower part of thefeed-5 frame section. As shown in Figs. 4and 5, keyed to the shaft 20intermediate its ends is a worm 21 having meshing ther with atjitsopposite sides worm wheels 22 and 23 rota't-f vertical axes at theopposite mg on parallel sides of the central longitudinal median line ofthe machine.

ly suitably journaled within the fee frame sectionand having fixedtheretorwormsfle and '27 respectivel Meshing with the worm 26'is slowspeedworinwheel 28 whi1e a similar slow speed worm wheel 29fme's'hes 3As shown, these wormcentral longitudinal vertical plane of themachine;The worm, wheels'2'8 arid'QQ are con nectible with'their respectiveshafts by Inn-l Keyed to the outer ends of the shafts 30 and 31 aregears 34 and 35 respectively meshing with the teeth of internal gears 36and 37 herein. formed integral with the haulage drums 5 and '6. It willthus'be seen that:

when the clutch 32 is applied the feed drum 5 may be driven in'win'dingdirection at a relat vely slow speed appropriate for cut ,ting; throughgearing 17,18,49

I shaft 20, worm-gearing '21, 22, 26, 28, shaft30 and gear 34-meshingiwith theinternal gear36- Eachof these drums srotatably supportedsagcured to the drum. Also when the clutch is speedthrough a similartrain ofgearingj:

Now referring to the'xfast 's'peed'df'iving means for :the feed andcontrolling drums, itwill 'be'not'ed that keyed also to rthe-shaft fldis a'jworm-38 having-meshing therewith at its opposite ,sides wormtating on parallel vertical axes at the opp0- site sides of the centrallongitudinal vertical These wd'rm wheels are'ikeyedto verticalshafts-41- and 42 "res pec=.. tively, suitably journaled within the.feed frame section and theseshafts. have fixed theretoworms43-and 44meshing with fast 4 speed worm wheels" 45' and .46 respective/1y,rotatably supported on the an-gularl'jv dis-T" noted that... an improved,-flexible feeding plane of the machine.

posed shafts 30 'and 31in coaxial relation with the worm wheels 28; and-29 worm wheels 45 and 46areeconnectible with discclutehes 47 and'48respectively, 1 It will "thus befseenth-at when the friction clutchj471These worm .wheels, arekeyedto vertical shafts 24 and 25 res ective-.

30 and 31 respectively, suitably-' tiple discclut'ches 32 and 33respectively" applied'the winding drumG may be whelsr39 and 40mm? nwhich the bearing structure is enclosed. Va rious' modes 0foperation ofthe improved feeding means will be clearly apparent to those skilledinthe mining machine art. and

These" inf-the continuous. cutter, bottom cutting the shafts 30 and 31by means '--of multiple is applied, the feed drum 5 may be driven inwinding direction at a relatively fast haulage speed through spurgearing 17 18, 19, shaft 20, worm gearing 38, 39, 43, 45, shaft 30 andgear 34 meshing with the internal gear 36 secured to the drum. v Alsowhen the friction clutch 48 is applied; the controlling .ldrumt6 may bedriven in winding direction at a similar speed through a similar gearand 6 may be driven in winding direction either separately orsimultaneously at relatively high speed or at relatively low speed;and-tha t npon partial. release of the friction clutches the drums mayrotate in unwinding direction. under various degrees of frictionalresistance When the-friction clutches are entirely released the", drumsmay freely I'OtHtG. I l v i 31am cylindrical. pressureplates 50' and 51having projecting fingersextending through =apertures'formed in the end;plates of the '1 clutch-housing and worm-wheel respectively. ilnterposedbetwee'n these pressure plates for "each of the sets of frictionclutches are pivoted'shipper yokes 52 and-53 respectively,

each having an operating handle, 54 and 55,

conveniently-located at the top of the machine. It;will ,thu'sbe seenthat-the parts are so arrangedthatuonly-one clutch of one set maybeapplied at one time. v Asmentioned above, the feed and controlling-drums,5 and 6 are arranged on angularly disposed axes extending at obliqueangles; from the central longitudinal vertiof the rear end "of the feedframe, section.

on horizontal- :stub shafts 56 and 57 proj ecting laterally from: plates58 detachably secured totheconver-ging vertical side walls of they feedframe section. These stub shafts support anti-friction bearingson whichthe drumsare rotatably mounted and the drums .are eachcomposedof twoparts secured toether to form-an internal chamber 59 withas the method=of use of a room and pillar mining machine is well known, a descriptionofthe general modeofoperation of themachine is thought urmecessary. Asaresult of this..invention it will be means'is provided for a coalmining machine type whereby the machine is fed and guided cal plane ofthe machine and in the present instance are arranged \onthe oppositesides the feed and controlling drums on angularly disposed axesextending at obliqueangles from the central longitudinal vertical planeof the machine, thefeeding mechanism is rendered extremely compact bothlaterally drums it is possible to effect rotation of the drums inwinding direction by power either separately or simultaneously atrelative'ly low speed or at relatively high speed; or-to'- permitrotation of the drum inunwinding direction under various degreesvoffrictional resistance or without such resistance, there by rendering themachine well adapted to accommodate itselfato the various miningconditions encountered in room and pillar parent to those skilled inthis art.l 7 While there is inthis application specifically describedone form which the invention may assume in practice, it will'be under-"stood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustrationand that the invention may be modified and embodied in various otherforms without departing fromits spirit or the scopeof the appendedclaims.- 1' What I claim as newand desire to secure by'Letters Patent is1.'A mining machine feeding mechanisiir including relatively rotatablefeed members, each adapted to cooperate directly with flQXlble feedingmeans andldisposed on axes at oblique. angles to the centrallongitudinal median line ofthe machine 2; A mining machine feedingmechanism including relatively rotatable feed members, "Teach adapted tocooperate directly with fiexi-,

ble feeding means and disposed at the opposite sides of the rear end ofthe machine with],

their axes at substantially-right-angles, one of said members lyingwithin atransverse 'EQZOHG bounded by parallel transverse, verticalplanes perpendicular'to the central longitudinal vertical plane of themachine and respectively including the foremost and rearmost points onsaid other member.

each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means anddisposed a tthe rear:

end of the machine with theiraxes horizontal. and at substantially rightangles one of said members lying within a, transverse izone bounded byparallel transverse vertical planes perpendicular to the'centrallongitudinal Yvertical plane of the machine and'respectively includingthe foremost and rearmost-points on said other member. Y n

each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means anddisposed: with." their machine,. .7 i. i a. v i g 5. A mining machinefeeding mechanism including arotatable feed operating member adapte'dito cooperate directly with flexible axes horizontal and at obliqueangles to the central :longitudinalj'median line of the feeding 'meansand disposed with its axis 7 horizontal and at"a"-substantially obliqueangle to the central longitudinal median line of the inachine -withits"axial; line sloping forwardlyas'it approaches said-niedian line.

6. A mining'machi'ne feeding mechanism including relativelylrotat ablefeed members each'adapted to'cooperate-directlywith flexi 1 Me feedingmeans'and disposed at the rear end of the machine with their axeshorizontal' andfl'a t substantiallyoblique angles to and at oppositesides of the-central longitudinal a work. These and other advantages ofthef improved feeding means will be clearly-'apverticalplaneof themachine.

including relatively rotatable. feed operating cooperate directly with:fiexiblefeeding means with-their axes at substantially right angles,

and controlling a members each "adapted to oneof said members lyingwithin a-transverse zonebounded by parallel transverse vertical planesperpendicular to the central longitudi I nal-vertical: plane oft-he.ina-chine'and respec tively including the foremost and rearmostpointsonsaid' other member,-and motor op+- erated driving means forsaidmembers.

8, mining machine'feeding mechanism' 1 including relatively rotatablefeed operating I and controlling members each adapted to cooperatedirectly with flexiblelfeeding means centrallongitudinal medianline ofthe maand disposed on axesat obliqneangles to'the f chine and motoroperated'drivingmeans forincluding relatively rotatable feedope-rating;v

and disposed at the..-'rear1end of the machine at opposite sidesofthelcentral'longitudinal;

median lin'e of the latter andwith their axes at substantially rightangles, one'of said-mem- *bers lying within a transverse zonebounded SI3. A mining machine feeding mechanism. including relativelyrotatablefeed members by parall'el'transverse vertical plane perpendicularto thecentral longitudinal: vertical 5;

plane of the machine and respectively includingthe foremost a ndrea-rin'ost pointsi onsaid other member, and motor operated -.ClI1V1I1gand controllingmembers each adapted to cooperate directly with flexiblefeeding means 1 and disposedatthegreariend of the machine with theirgaxes horizontala and at substan tially'rightiangl'es, one o'f sa id.members lying within a transverse: zonebounded by parallel i transversevertical planes 'perpndicularto -;thecentral=longitudiiialxverticalplaneof the 5: right angles.

. adapted to cooperate directly feeding means and disposed with. itsaxis hori- 'machine and lespectivelyincluding thcforemost and rearmostpoints on said'other member, and motor operated driving'mea-ns forsaidmembers.

11. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeed operating andcontrolling members. each adapted to co operatedirectly with-flexible feeding means and disposed with their" axeshorizontal and v,at; oblique angles to the central-longitudinalmedianline of the machine; and-motor operated driving means for said members.

12. A mining ma'chinefeeding mechanism,

including a rotatable feed "operating-member with flexible zontal and atasubstantially oblique angle to the central longitudinal? median "11116of. the machine with its axial linesloping forwardly'as it approachessaid median line, and motor operated driving meansfor said member.

13. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatableifeed' members.

each adapted to cooperate dir'ectlyEwith :fieXi ble feeding meansandedisposed:withinthe lateral limits of the machine on axes at obliqueangles :to thecentral longitudinal median lineof the machine. I

14. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relativelyrotatablefeed-members each adapted'to'cooperate directlywith flexible feedingmeans and disposed within the lateral limits of the machine at-the-rearend of the machine withtheiraxes at substantially 15; A mining machinefeedingmachanism including relativelyrotatable feed" operating andcontrolling members eachadapted to cooperate directly with flexiblefeeding means and disposed at the same end of themachine 1 with theiraxeshorizontal and at substantially right angles, one of said memberslying Within a transverse zone "bounded-by:parallel transverse vertical"planes ,perpendiularto the central longitudinal verticalxplane of themachine and respectively including theforemost and'rearmost-pointsonsaid other memv said members.

: 165A'minin machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeed'operating andcontrolling members each adapted to cooperate directlywith-flexible feeding means and disposed at the same end of the machineat opposite sides of the-central longitudinal median line of the latterand with their axes ber,"and' motor operated "driving means for atsubstantially right angles, one of said mem'-- bers lying within atransversezone bounded byparallel transversesvertical planesperpendicular to the "central longitudinal vertical plane of the machineand respectively including the foremost and rearmost point-s said othermember; and motor operatedflriving means for said members. f r 1 Amining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feedoperating and controlling members each adapted to cooperate directlywith flexible feeding means and disposed in symmetrical relationat thejopposite sides of thesame end of the machine With theiraxes horizontaland at substantially right angles, and motor operated driving meansfor-said members. i

'18. A mining machine-feeding mechanisms including relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexiblefeedingmeans and disposed in theisame transverse. zone Withinthe lateral limitsofthe machine -at the sa'meend of the machine- Witht'heiraxes atsubstantial-1y right angles.

-19.' A mining machine feeding mechanism including a rotatable feedoperating member adaptedto cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, said member rotating on a horizontal axis in a line whose portionbetween the feed operating member and the ,central'longitudinal verticalplane of the machine makes an acute angle with'the portion ofsaid planelying to the rear of the point of intersection of said line 'with'saidplane.

20. A mining machine feeding mechanism" including a machine frame', anda rotatable feed operating'member thereon adapted to cooperate directlywith flexible feeding means and disposed wholly within the laterallimits of said frame with its axis horizontal and'at a substantialoblique angle to the'cen tral longitudinal median line of the machine.-

21. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable"feed members including relatively rotatable 'feed'members each adaptedto cooperate directly with flexible feeding means and disposedoniaxes atoblique-angles to the central longitudinal median line of the machine,and motor oper ated driving means for said members including shafts oneoperatively connected to each feed member andarra'nged on axes extendingin the same direction as said feed member axes, and a shaft extendinglongi- -'tudinally of the machine at the longitudinal vertical centerthereof and operatively connected tosaid shafts. I

23. A miningniachine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans and'dispose'd on axes at oblique anglesto the centrallongitudinal.- mediaii liiie ofthe machine, and motor open,

ated driving means for said members including shafts one operativelyconnected to each feed member and arranged on axes extending in the samedirection as said feed member axes, a shaft extending longitudinally ofthe machine at the longitudinal vvertical center thereof and pluralspeed driving connections between said longitudinally extending shaftand said angularly disposed shafts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MORRIS P. HOLMES.

